Olympus to release two more Micro Four Thirds lenses in 2010

Olympus announces today plans to release two more Micro Four Thirds lenses in the first half of 2010. They include a wide-angle zoom Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 lens (18-36mm equivalent) and wide to telephoto zoom Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens (28-300mm equivalent). These lenses join two already in the lineup, the f2.8 17mm (34mm equivalent) “pancake” lens and f3.5-5.6 14-42mm (28-84mm) zoom lens introduced with the E-P1.

The concern with creating lenses for this format, especially telephoto lenses, is keeping them compact. The 9-18mm is currently in development, though Olympus says it will measure no more than 50mm in physical size (less than 2.0 inches). The 14-150mm, in its final production form, should measure about 65mm (about 2.5 inches).

These lenses meet the standards of the Micro Four Thirds system developed jointly between Olympus and Panasonic. Read more about this format in our brief write-up.